Petunia plant named &#39;KLEPH15261&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  petunia  plant particularly distinguished by having a yellow flower color with a uniform corolla, a medium vigor and a semi-trailing plant habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Petunia hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEPH15261’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEPH15261’. ‘KLEPH15261’ is a selection from a cross-pollination of the proprietary female petunia line ‘PH-2011-2754’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male petunia line ‘PH-2009-1258’ (unpatented).

In July of 2011, the proprietary female petunia line ‘PH-2011-2754’ and the proprietary male petunia line ‘PH-2009-1258’ were cross pollinated in Latina, Italy and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in April 2012 in Latina, Italy and named ‘KLEPH15261’. In May 2012, ‘KLEPH15261’ was first vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture in Latina, Italy. ‘KLEPH15261’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via tissue culture and terminal tip cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Latina, Italy.

-   1. Yellow flower color with a uniform corolla; -   2. A medium vigor; and -   3. A semi-trailing plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph, which shows a close-up of the flower of the plant. The plant is about 3 months-old grown in Stuttgart, Germany in April 2014. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEPH15261’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on ten-week-old plants grown indoors in Latina, Italy under greenhouse conditions in February 2015. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Species.—Petunia hybrida.         -   Common name.—Petunia.         -   Variety.—‘KLEPH15261’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female.—Proprietary petunia line ‘PH-2011-2754’.         -   Male.—Proprietary petunia line ‘PH-2009-1258’. -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Medium vigor.         -   Habit.—Semi-trailing.         -   Height (from top of soil).—About 7.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—About 16.0 cm.         -   Propagation.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 13 weeks             in winter under short day conditions, 7 weeks in spring.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.         -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,             white roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Average number (basal).—10.         -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the             tip).—About 9.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—0.4 cm to 1.0 cm.         -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.4 cm.         -   Stem color.—RHS 145D.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Texture.—Tomentose. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Length.—5.0 cm to 7.0 cm.         -   Width.—2.0 cm to 2.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137D Lower surface:             RHS 146B.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137B Lower surface:             RHS 146B.         -   Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces: Tomentose.         -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N137B Lower surface: RHS             145A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.4 cm Color: RHS             145B Texture: Tomentose. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—Irregular oblong.         -   Length.—4.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.7 cm.         -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 145B at the base and RHS 150C at the             top.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Permanent flowering             during summertime.         -   Inflorescence type.—Cymose.         -   Number of flowers per node.—1.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About one             week.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 petals fused at the base             Diameter (flower face): 6.0 cm Depth (total length of             flower): 6.0 cm Throat/Funnel: Length: 3.3 cm Diameter (at             opening): 1.5 cm Texture: Inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous Color: Inner surface: RHS 7A Outer surface: RHS             150C Petals: Color, mature flower (fully opened): Upper             surface: Margin color of RHS 4D with veins of RHS 7A to RHS             7B (strong vein color provides the main color of the flower)             Lower surface: RHS 4A Apex: Mucronate Base: Fused Shape:             Fused in a funnel Margin: Entire Strength of waviness: Weak             Degree of lobation: Weak.         -   Calyx arrangement.—Actinomorphic, composed of 5 sepals             Sepals: Color: Upper surface: RHS 137A Lower surface: RHS             137C Length: 1.7 cm to 2.0 cm Width: 0.4 cm Shape: Narrowly             oblong Apex: Acute Base: Attenuate Margin: Entire Texture:             Upper and lower surface: Pubescent.         -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144A Length: 3.8 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm             Texture: Pubescent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5 Shape: Needle like with elliptic head             Filament: Length: 1.3 cm Diameter: 0.05 cm Color: RHS 2D             Anther: Shape: Elliptic-oblong Color: RHS 8B Length: 0.2 cm             Diameter: 0.15 cm Pollen: Color: RHS 11B Amount: Abundant.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1 Length: 2.7 cm Stigma color:             RHS 143A Style color: RHS 145A. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed -   Disease and pest insect resistance: None observed

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH15261’ is a distinct variety of petunia. ‘KLEPH15261’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male Parent Trait ‘KLEPH15261’ ‘PH-2011-2754’ ‘PH-2009-1258’ Flower More uniform Darker color than Lighter margin than color corolla color than ‘KLEPH15261’ ‘KLEPH15261’ the parental lines with a yellow center Earliness About two weeks About two earlier than weeks later than ‘PH-2009-1258’ ‘KLEPH15261’

‘KLEPH15261’ is most similar to the commercial petunia plant named Sunshine Ray (patent status unknown). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Characteristic ‘KLEPH15261’ Sunshine Ray Flower color Yellow face and margin Lighter margin and stronger vein center than ‘KLEPH15261’ 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of petunia plant named ‘KLEPH15261’ as illustrated and described herein. 